A file server is provided for use in an association of devices that implements a distributed-file system, the association of devices including file servers that each are configured to control separate segments of the distributed-file system. The file server includes a memory interface configured to communicate with a memory storing at least one of the segments of the distributed file system, and a processor coupled to the memory interface and configured to: identify a file system object that resides on a first segment in the distributed file system and that is directly pointed to by a first remote ancestor directory that resides on a second segment separate from the first segment; and store a first shadow tree entry in a selected segment other than the second segment, the first shadow tree entry providing a pointer to the file system object and being disposed in a shadow tree, where the first shadow tree entry provides an alternative to the first remote ancestor directory to access the file system object in the distributed file system.